After Trump's arrest threat, Zohran Mamdani fires back at the U.S. President
New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani has fiercely condemned the U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to arrest, detain, and deport him for pledging to block ICE raids in the city. Mamdani, who recently won the Democratic primary in a major upset, accused Trump of trying to intimidate him and silence dissent, calling the president's threats "an attack on our democracy" and a warning to all New Yorkers who oppose federal immigration enforcement. Watch for more
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Business Standard
20 minutes ago
- Business Standard
India-US interim trade deal nearly sealed after a week of intense talks
After nearly a week of intense negotiations, India and the United States (US) are learnt to have almost finalised an interim trade deal, mainly focusing on tariff concessions. An announcement is expected over the next two-three days, ahead of the looming expiry of the US's 90-day pause on country-specific reciprocal tariff deadline, people aware of the matter told Business Standard. Indian officials are also closely studying the US' trade agreement with Vietnam announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, especially since the South-East Asian nation is a significant regional competitor for India in manufacturing and exports.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
India's ‘Trump Card' on trade deal? How India can handle US pressure and seal agreement
As the US and India look to seal a trade deal ahead of Donald Trump's self-imposed July 9 deadline, India seems to be resisting American pressure - joining a select group of countries refusing to budge to tactics of the world's largest economy. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While smaller economies like Vietnam have capitulated by slashing tariffs and opening markets, India can use its growing energy imports as a strategic bargaining chip, and refuse to budge on sensitive issues like agriculture, believes Swaminathan Aiyar, Consulting Editor at ET Now. India's 'Trump Card': Energy imports According to Aiyar, India is in a far better negotiating position than most. 'I really think we should be tough and hold out. Our strength is that because we are short of oil and gas, we can be among the very few countries that are going to shrink their trade deficit with the USA,' Aiyar said, according to an ET report quoting the TV channel. India's oil imports from the US jumped to 439,000 barrels per day in June, up from 280,000 bpd the month before. That's exactly the kind of stat Trump loves, evidence that a trading partner is helping reduce the US trade deficit. Also read: Aiyar added, 'Other countries will find it very difficult because I do not think they are in a position to massively increase imports of energy.' Agri and dairy: Red lines for India But if Trump expects a wide-ranging trade deal, India's agricultural sector is where things hit a wall. Aiyar warned that any move to open India's markets to genetically modified (GM) crops, such as GM soy, maize, and wheat, which dominate US agriculture, would trigger domestic and international consequences. 'If we allow this in, then we will not be allowed to export to Europe because Europe won't take genetically modified crops,' Aiyar was quoted as saying. The issue is politically sensitive, especially after months of nationwide farmer protests. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Any move to allow GM food imports could spark widespread backlash. So while Trump's farm lobby is pushing hard, India is unlikely to grant access. Also read: Vietnam's deal: More optics than economics Trump recently announced a deal with Vietnam, claiming zero-duty access and market entry. But Aiyar dismissed this as 'largely theatrical.' Vietnam, he said, imports very little from the US to begin with, so zero tariffs don't amount to much. 'The plain and simple fact is that they import very little from the USA… If they say import duty on cars comes down to zero, how many American companies are going to be competitive compared with the Japanese, Koreans, or Europeans?' Aiyar asked. Vietnam was already willing to offer zero tariffs on certain goods, and Trump's deal is more about symbolism than substance. Japan and EU are holding firm too India is not alone in resisting Washington's aggressive trade agenda. Both Japan and the European Union have rejected what they see as unfair, one-sided demands from the Trump administration. 'They are saying they are going to continue and have very serious problems with US proposals. We are not going to keel under,' Aiyar said. 'That sends a message to India and others, don't cave in.' With the July 9 deadline looming, Aiyar believes Trump is more focused on the headlines than the fine print. 'Even where there are partial agreements, as may be the case with India, he will play that up. He's a performer. A stage actor,' he said.
The Hindu
28 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Amnesty International says Israel using starvation to commit Gaza genocide
Amnesty International issued a report Thursday (July 3, 2025) claiming a controversial Israeli- and U.S.-backed system to distribute aid in Gaza uses starvation tactics against Palestinians to continue to commit genocide in the Gaza Strip during Israel's war with Hamas. The U.K.-based human rights group condemned Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which the U.S. and Israel have backed to take over aid distribution in Gaza from a network led by the United Nations. Israel's foreign minister denounced the Amnesty report, saying the organization has 'joined forces with Hamas and fully adopted all of its propaganda lies.' Gaza's Health Ministry says more than 500 Palestinians have been killed at or near GHF distribution centers over the past month. The centers are guarded by private security contractors and located near Israeli military positions. Palestinian officials and witnesses have accused Israeli forces of opening fire at crowds of people moving near the sites. The Amnesty report said Israel has 'turned aid-seeking into a booby trap for desperate starved Palestinians' through GHF's militarized hubs. The conditions have created "a deadly mix of hunger and disease pushing the population past breaking point.' 'This devastating daily loss of life as desperate Palestinians try to collect aid is the consequence of their deliberate targeting by Israeli forces and the foreseeable consequence of irresponsible and lethal methods of distribution,' said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty's secretary general. The Israeli army says it has fired warning shots to control crowds and only fires at people it says are acting suspiciously. The Foreign Ministry and COGAT, the Israeli defence body in charge of coordinating aid to Gaza, said Israel has facilitated the entry of over 3,000 aid trucks into the Gaza Strip since May 19 and GHF has delivered boxes of food with the equivalent of 56 million meals. Humanitarian organizations say that amount is not nearly enough to meet overwhelming need in Gaza. GHF did not immediately return requests for comment. The World Food Programme says despite the new Israel-backed initiative, food consumption reached a critical low last month, with food diversity reaching its worst level since the conflict began. 'The continued closure of crossings, intensified violence since March, soaring food prices, and extremely limited humanitarian and commercial supplies have severely restricted access to even basic food items,' the WFP said in a June report. Amnesty's report follows a statement earlier this week from more than 165 major international charities and non-governmental organisations calling for an immediate end to the foundation. They say the new mechanism allows Israel to use food as a weapon, violates humanitarian principles and is ineffective. It's the latest sign of trouble for the GHF, a secretive initiative headed by an evangelical leader who is a close ally of President Donald Trump. Last month, the U.S. government pledged $30 million for the group to continue operation, the first known U.S. donation to the group, whose other funding sources remain opaque. GHF started distributing aid May 26 following a nearly three-month Israeli blockade that pushed Gaza's population of more than 2 million to the brink of famine. Palestinian witnesses have described scenes of chaos around the distribution sites, and two contractors in the operation have told The Associated Press that colleagues fired live ammunition and stun grenades toward crowds of people. Palestinians often must travel long distances to reach the sites. In a statement Tuesday, GHF rejected criticism of its operations and claimed it has delivered more than 52 million meals to hungry Palestinians. 'Instead of bickering and throwing insults from the sidelines, we would welcome other humanitarian groups to join us and feed the people in Gaza,' GHF said. GHF has called for Israel's military to investigate the allegations from Gaza's Health Ministry, but last month the organisation said there has been no violence in or around its centers and its personnel have not opened fire. Israel demanded the alternative plan because it accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid. The U.N. and aid groups deny there is significant diversion. Amnesty accused Israel last year of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip during its war with Hamas, saying it has sought to deliberately destroy Palestinians by mounting deadly attacks, demolishing vital infrastructure, and preventing the delivery of food, medicine and other aid. Israel, which was founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust, has adamantly rejected genocide allegations against it as an antisemitic 'blood libel.' It is challenging such allegations filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice and has rejected the International Criminal Court's accusations that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister committed war crimes in Gaza.
